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Richmond Avenue School in NJ at Estell Manor Park

WELCOME

Park Preservation

Youth Programs

Our mission is to preserve parks and create park stewards for tomorrow. Since 1983, we have completed more than 100 park projects benefiting 49 national park units and other public lands in 33 states. Furthermore, to foster future park enthusiasts and stewards, we launched in 2009 our Buddy Bison school program and in 2011 Kids to Parks Day, our nationwide day of play. Watch this video to learn more about our work and the impact of your support.

Mapping our progress

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Since 1983, NPT has supported and assisted in acquiring inholdings and in developing public and private partnerships to promote the acquisition and preservation of parks, wildlife refuges, historic landmarks, public lands, and water ways. We have completed more than 100 park projects benefiting 49 national park units and other public lands in 33 states. To learn more about about our work and how you can get involved, contact Dick Ring, NPT Park Projects Director.

The Buddy Bison school program was created in 2009 to engage diverse children from Title I schools with their local, state and national parks to teach environmental education and the numerous benefits of outdoor recreation. If parks are to survive, the face of those parks must change and under-served communities must have access to these local cultural and environmental resources. More than 80% of the students in the Buddy Bison school program qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch, predominantly in inner city communities. This program has been used in 60 schools across the country in grades pre-K through 8th in public, public charter and private schools across the country (20 states and Washington D.C.).

This experiential learning program enhances existing school curricula throughout the year with emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as history, language arts, reading, geography, the arts, and outdoor recreation. Students also learn about the careers of professionals who support our parks-- and the importance of stewarding our public lands. And in addition to bringing kids to parks, we bring parks to kids by arranging schools visits from our many conservation partners.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve'sPartnership for the Prairie CelebrationOctober 11, 2003

The public is cordially invited to attend the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve's Partnership for the Prairie Celebration on October 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a trailhead kiosk unveiling ceremony for the Bottomland Trail.

Afternoon festivities will begin at 12:00 p.m. with a bison barbeque and live music presented by the Home Rangers of Wichita. A silent auction will begin at 1:00 p.m. and a live auction at 2:00 p.m. Other activities include living history demonstrations, performances by the Wild Women of the Frontier on horseback, rides in a covered wagon by the Flint Hills Overland Wagon Train, and square dancing. Children age 12 and under will receive a free cowboy hat. The afternoon events will celebrate the dedication of the volunteers, staff and community, who worked to make the Preserve a success. The fee is $10 per person--$25 per family and proceeds will go to support this precious jewel of Kansas. Please reserve your place by calling (620-273-8139) or email us at louise@parktrust.org by October 8, 2003. For further information visit our web site at http://www.parktrust.org/zbar.html

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve provides a rare look into American history and tells the story about who we are and how we arrived here. This precious Kansas resource was established in 1996 as a unit of the National Park System. The unique public/private partnership between the National Park Service and the National Park Trust is dedicated to conserving the last publicly accessible remnant of the tallgrass prairie, interpreting the natural and cultural heritage associated with ranching, and offering opportunities for education, artistic inspiration and enjoyment through its geological, ecological, scenic and historical features. The National Park Trust is a private, non-profit organization and the only land conservancy dedicated to preserving America's national system of parks, wildlife, and historic monuments.

The Preserve headquarters are located on highway 177 two miles north of the junction of highways 50 & 177 which is one half mile west of Strong City or 17 miles south of Council Grove on Highway 177. Hours of operations are daily from 9:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M.

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PRAIRIE CELEBRATION

10:30 a.m.- Unveiling of trailhead to the interpretive Bottomland Trail12:00 p.m.-Bison barbeque, music by the Home Rangers & living history demonstrators1:00 p.m.-Silent auction, Covered Wagon Rides and Square Dancing2:00 p.m.- Live Auction1:00 and 3:00- Wild Women on horseback performance

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The entrance to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located two miles north of Strong City, Kansas on State Highway 177.

Buddy Bison

Buddy Bison, our lovable woolly mascot encourages kids to explore outdoors, the parks are yours! Visit the Buddy Bison section of our site to learn more about our school program, and how you can get your own Buddy Bison and share your park adventures and photos. Did you know that proceeds from Buddy Bison sales help us get under-served kids to their local parks?